Albio Sires Voices Opposition to Port Deal

White House Would Allow Sale of Port Operations in Newark and Elizabeth

(West New York) –Speaker Albio Sires today called on the White House to scrap its plans to allow the takeover of major American ports by a United Arab Emirates-owned company, citing security concerns and the UAE’s blemished record on terrorism.

The White House recently approved a deal that would allow Dubai Ports World, which is owned by the United Arab Emirates, to take a major role in overseeing the ports of Newark and Elizabeth, as well as other major ports throughout the country. The UAE was found to have financial ties to 9/11 terrorists and is also one of three nations to have recognized the Taliban as Afganistan’s official government.

“It is unconscionable for this Administration to put the lives of millions at risk by approving this ill-conceived deal,� said Sires. “The families of North Jersey deserve better than to have their health and safety put in the hands of a government that has funded terrorism and supported the Taliban regime, which harbored Osama Bin Laden for so many years.�

As Assembly Speaker, Albio Sires wrote the law to overhaul New Jersey’s DMV, so that terrorists cannot obtain fake driver’s licenses that put them on airplanes, helped local communities with the cost of homeland security, improved coordination in the event of a terrorist attack and increased homeland security funding for the state police. He also created the Assembly Committee on Homeland Security and State Preparedness.

“The fact that this deal was allowed to go forward is mind-boggling,� said Sires. “We should immediately ban the sale of our port operations to foreign governments and recognize that regimes that fund terrorists should not be put in charge of at-risk transportation hubs. Clearly, the leadership in Washington has lost its way and it is time for them to be sent packing. I am running for Congress because I know that the safety of our residents is paramount and I pledge that once in Washington, I will continue to fight to protect our families as strongly as I have throughout my public life.�

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